Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2016

pinknfluffy28

Thanks all for the welcome.

Have made a good start yesterday:

Make do - dug out the wool stash and crochet hooks, and am currently half way through a sun hat for dd2, going to start on a couple of vest tops for myself next, much more fun than buying them, and completely free!

Mend - sewn buttons onto three of dd1's school shirts and vanished them, I'm certain they can last her until the end of term now!

Minimise - Started clearing out the playroom. Dd's are 15 & 8 now, and the only real "toys" that get played with are lego, sylvania and shopkins. Time for the barbies, lps, and disney dolls to go to a new home (with dd's blessing fortunately)... ebay here I come!

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

It has been awhile, but MMM has been ticking over as usual here. I've started knitting a scarf for OH out of some 'reclaimed' wool from a cardigan I bought for £1. It is a lovely and soft lambswool/cashmere blend in a nice gray.

JackieO--I'm also supposed to be making progress on a quilt block for a blanket for the Linus Project with my WI craft group. I haven't touched it in a week so I'd better get cracking.

Work is very busy at the moment but should slow down tremendously at the start of June. OH is doing most of the cooking for now as his work is a bit slower, but he isn't a baker so we've been having yoghurt for pudding. Not the best for minimizing the shopping budget, but not the worst either.

I'm still mostly keeping up with screen-free evenings.

Right, time for me to get back to work today, I want to stop early this afternoon to dress a summer hat I got for £2 in a CS. I've an occasion to wear it tonight!

[Deleted User]

The Linus Project is such a lovely charity and I have been knitting for them for about 8 years. I make knitted blankets, and my friend does quilts and crochetted ones. I use even the left over bits of wool from her crochet work and make stripey ones.

I have seven warm and well-fed grandchildren, who have never been cold or hungry in their lives, and to me if one of my many 'blankey's' end up keeping a child somewhere in the world warm I am more than happy to do it .

Its good exercise for my right arm which I have lymphodema in, and need to keep it moving to help with the drainage ,so its win-win for everyone

My wool stash is always getting topped with from donations from friends and neighbours or I buy small cardi's from boot sales for a relatively small amount and undo them ,wash and rewind, so they get recycled

As a certain shop says 'every little helps ':):):)

JackieO

pinkypig

Jackie O - what a great thing to be able to do for such a good cause. I can't knit or crochet and my sewing skills are basic to say the least:o
I've minimised some horrible admin jobs that I've been putting off so my paperwork is up to date. I'm also working my way through a seemingly endless pile of exam papers:(

Making do - Lunch was leftovers from last night and I made a large pot of cream of veg soup using a couple of very sad parsnips, carrots and the end of a white cabbage. This is now in the freezer in portions for lunches next week. Dinner was paella using ingredients I had in the fridge, cupboard and freezer.

Mend - only a small one but I've repaired the torn belt loop on my jeans.

Hope everyone's had a good day.
PP x

iamsalt

Morning everyone.
Lovely to see you back JackieO, and I was sorry to hear about your brother.
Welcome newbies to the MMM world.
Been rather busy inRL, but a little pre-planning meant we ate properly rather than take away or sweets.
Am considering applying for flexible working, and dropping a few hours, to help me support my mum more, but I need to consider all the financial implications especially while oh is working part time while studying. MMM has enabled me to consider it for the first time. I have also learnt contentment and appreciate what I have rather than always looking for something new or different.

I have found myself getting more frustrated with the amount of stuff we have, so despite filling a bag for the cs each month, I would like to make a concerted effort to reduce the clutter and hopefully feel calmer.
We are off on holiday with family next Friday. A self catering cottage, so I have started a box of food and bits to take with us. Definitely making do.
Work today, but minimising a pile of rubbish at my mum's tonight, my shredder gave up recently so will take some papers to be burnt.
Mending- pre-emptive top up of oil and water in my car to keep it running well.
Up to £487 in savings to pay for the mortgage, I can only pay off lumps of £500 at a time so hopefully I can find a bit more so that can go by the end of the month.
S x

[Deleted User]

Minimised two packets of cooked beetroot from the fridge to the freezer I had bought them and they had a very long date on them (September I think ) and realised that each held 6 large beetroot's Now I like beetroot but couldn't eat 6 at a time so I have wrapped them individually in cling film and frozen them. last nights dinner was a chicken curry from the freezer which was delicious as I remember using two chicken breasts and extra veg that had been left in the fridge when I came back from my spring holiday I had brought them home and decided to curry them and had made four decent sized portions buy bulking out with veg.really tasted delicious and I know I have some more in there for perhaps the weekend. My DGS Ben will be home from Uni next month so I know he loves a curry so I can see them being 'minimised fairly quickly

Now today I shall be thinking of using up a nice white cabbage that I have been given I may make a small dish of coleslaw with some as I have a couple of past their best bendy carrots in the bottom of the fridge.I enjoy looking in the fridge and thinking 'now what can I turn that into :):)

FunBrum

Coming back home tonight from Ibiza

I will be able to get stuck into MMMing when I'm back into a routine.:)
In the meantime, I'm making do yet again with the delicious All Inclustive food here.:p
Minimising the toiletries transform my hotel bathroom. It's always nice to replenish my stocks at home!:D
I've got nothing to mend until I get home.:)

It's lovely to hear about all your MMMing, and gives me lots of ideas!:D

Treasurequeen

welcome pinknfluffy28, I haven't been on here for a few weeks have been feeling poorly, im in the middle of a CFS and fibro flare up. Oh the joys! I have minimised 12 books and they are currently in a bin bag ready to take to a charity shop. I am trying to minimise as much stuff as I can as I am moving in a couple of months.

Using up the rest of the vegetable soup for lunch with the last bread roll lurking in the bread bin. tea tonight will be something from the freezer as I haven't got any energy.

Mended a cardigan that had a massive hole in it that I didn't realise was there and no one said anything. I have been walking around with a massive hole in my cardigan and no one had the decency to say anything.:eek:

Minihauk

Hi folks, it's been a while since I posted, but have been keeping up with all your antics.

I'm still pottering away in my little corner. My dd has been away on holiday and I was looking after her cats, have minimised them back to her so now to minimise the hair everywhere :eek: Also going to minimise the weeds in the garden which are growing like triffids! Going to be using left over veg to make soup to tea tonight.

Question for the sewers amongst us: I would like to buy a sewing machine. It will not be used much and does not need to be fancy. Any recommendations for a good value, basic machine please?

elona

The previous owner of the bungalow is outside collecting his fish and getting rid of at least one of the big tanks outside! :j

DD and SIL are coming round for a bite to eat tonight so have made a large pot of mince with onions, carrots, mushrooms, chopped tomatoes, herbs and bay leaves from the garden. I also boiled some potatoes so will turn it into a cottage pie with hopefully a couple of portions to freeze.

Nice day so I hope the soil etc left in the garden will dry out and can be cleared rather than slipping in the mud.

I have just spoken to the person helping clear the ponds and he might be able to make me an offer on the remaining pond so fingers crossed.